Twelve Quilts of Christmas – #3
Grab a cup of tea. Today’s post is an unusually long one. Novel-like! (wink!)
In the summer of 1971, a ground-breaking exhibition, Abstract Design in American Quilts, curated by Jonathan Holstein and Gail van der Hoof, took place at the Whitney Museum in New York City. The show was successful beyond all expectations. Robert Shaw, in his book Quilts: A Living Tradition, comments: “the Whitney Exhibition was novel in that it purposefully took quilts out of any sort of historical context and looked at them strictly as works of abstract art. Holstein’s catalog begged the question, pointing out the quilts’ similarities to modern abstract painting and noting how their makers had found design solutions that would not be ‘discovered’ by artists until a century later.”
Holstein later wrote in his book of the same name, Abstract Design in American Quilts, that no applique quilts where chosen for the exhibition as they were often made for “best”. Instead the focus was on everyday quilts. This is important. These quilts weren’t made for show. They were made to be used. This quilt above was not made for show. It was made to be used.
The Circles and Cross Quilt was hung in the lobby of the Whitney Museum; a striking and captivating introduction to the show. Holstein wrote: “This is a unique pattern. Novelty alone, however, would not have taken it to the lobby of the Whitney as the banner of the exhibition. Why this quilt, to symbolize the theme and the direction of the show? The boldness of the design and the strangeness of the concept make it very eye catching, so those were factors. Equally important was its striking resemblance to a modern painting. I would guess many more people assumed it was a painting or similar work by a contemporary artist, than a quilt.” Seeing the impactful design of this quilt invites, for me, a physical reaction; a huge intake of air, followed by a slight shaking of the head, all in response to its stunning presence. I have to imagine visitors to that exhibit must have had a similar response.
Whenever I see a lot of tan coloured fabric in a quilt, particularly one from this time period, I wonder if tan was indeed the original colour of the fabric (and sometimes it was) or if it was a fabric where the colour had faded. Natural dyes and some early synthetic dyes were notoriously unstable and were referred to as fugitive dyes; their colour fading due to environmental factors, such as light, temperature, or humidity. This instability afflicted certain colours, in particular some blacks, purples, greens and even some blues, and could cause some colours to fade or almost disappear, or in the case of some blacks, to fade to a rust colour.
So that tan fabric? Can you imagine this quilt with a purple or a green colour where there is currently tan? An interesting question, right?
Before I close this post, I want to add something else to the discussion today.
Consider that the quilter who made this quilt did not make it for the exhibition at the Whitney, obviously. And I don’t imagine it was shown anywhere else “grand” at the time it was made, except maybe at a local fair or on the clothesline to air in the spring. What I am getting at is the maker made it because it made them happy, because it fulfilled an artistic need, one that they could share with their family, and because it helped keep someone warm. They were making what they wanted to make, just for their own needs. They were naturally doing what I call Quilting with Abandon, a phrase I coined about 10 or 12 years ago.
I shared on IG and Facebook recently, a post about my Rules of Quiltmaking. You can read it here, in response to all the posts I was seeing about #quiltconreject and those who were sharing the non-acceptance of their quilts.
It seems to me there is pressure and a hustle bustle that has been added to the making of quilts in recent years, and frankly folks, we don’t need one more bit of pressure, especially these days. Which is why I am going to share something I saw on Facebook here with you all, as an adjunct to that Rules of Quiltmaking post, I am sharing it because I know I needed to hear its affirming message, and maybe you or someone else you know needs to hear it too. The words are from a post by Naomi Holdt. I don’t know her, or her background, and I am not endorsing her in anyway, or her services. I just know I found her words powerful and affirming. The photo below is mine … a moment captured to remind myself of the space I took, to go to the beach, at the end of a very busy day, to just sit and reflect and recharge, and simply watch the sun set.
Here is what Naomi wrote:
A gentle reminder about why you are utterly exhausted…
No one I know began this year on a full tank. Given the vicious onslaught of the previous two years (let’s just call it what it was) most of us dragged ourselves across the finish line of 2021… frazzled, spent, running on aged adrenaline fumes…
We crawled into 2022 still carrying shock, trauma, grief, heaviness, disbelief… The memories of a surreal existence…
And then it began… The fastest hurricane year we could ever have imagined. Whether we have consciously processed it or not, this has been a year of more pressure, more stress, and a race to “catch up” in all departments… Every. Single. One. Work, school, sports, relationships, life…
Though not intentionally aware, perhaps hopeful that the busier we are, the more readily we will forget… the more easily we will undo the emotional tangle… the more permanently we will wipe away the scarring wounds…
We can’t.
And attempts to re-create some semblance of “normal” on steroids while disregarding that for almost two years our sympathetic nervous systems were on full alert, has left our collective mental health in tatters. Our children and teens are not exempt. The natural by-product of fighting a hurricane is complete and utter exhaustion…
So, before you begin questioning the absolutely depleted and wrung-dry state you are in- Pause. Breathe. Remind yourself of who you are and what you have endured. And then remind yourself of what you have overcome. Despite it all, you’re still going. (Even on the days you stumble and find yourself face down in a pile of dirt). Understanding brings compassion…
Most of the world’s citizens are in need of a little extra TLC at the moment. Most are donning invisible “Handle with care” posters around their necks and “Fragile” tattoos on their bodies…
Instead of racing to the finish line of this year, tread gently. Go slowly.
Amidst the chaos, find small pockets of silence. Find compassion. Allow the healing. And most of all… Be kind. There’s no human being on earth who couldn’t use just a little bit more of the healing salve of kindness.
With love
Naomi Holdt – Psychologist and Speaker
Be kind to yourself. Remember why you make quilts. And Quilt with Abandon. That’s it.
Now go make yourself another cup of tea, and I’ll see you tomorrow.
